Coronavirus Highlightss: Large swathes of the country are set to remain under lockdown as the government announced the second phase of the country's gradual emergence from restrictions. While lockdown will stay containment zones, the other areas will have certain relaxations in terms of night curfew and people's presence in shops. But there will be no big ticket changes yet like opening of schools and colleges, cinema halls, gymnasiums, swimming pools, bars and assembly halls or metro services will not happen yet.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to address the country today at 4 pm as the fifth phase of lockdown comes to an end.
The second phase of unlock comes as India recorded more than 19,000 new coronavirus patients for a second consecutive day and the total cases are set to cross the 5.5 lakh-mark.
Till July 31, only essential activities will be allowed in containment zones, of which national capital Delhi has more than 470. Besides, a number of states, including Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Bengal and Assam, have announced that they will extend the lockdown in some districts beyond June 30.
